Schoolyard Bullies

As far as I am concerned, this is not civics education -- it gives the appearance of creating a cult of personality. This is something you'd expect to see in North Korea or in Saddam Hussein's Iraq.

-- Oklahoma Republican State Senator Steve Russell, on President Obama's plan to address America's schoolchildren next Tuesday

You know something? I've seen a lot of mind-bending insanity from the right since Barack Obama's election last November, but this seriously tops everything we've been inundated with so far. I rarely use this word, because it feels so cliché and therefore so impotent, but it's outrageous. Just outrageous. I obviously had a real problem with George W. Bush, but even at my most disgusted with his idiocy and his administration's corruption, I never would've marginalized him to the point where I denied him the right to talk to our kids. That's something you don't play politics with; it's above partisanism. And yet Obama's critics don't feel that way. They will turn a simple presidential address to America's kids -- somewhat of a tradition in this country -- into a reactionary dogfight.

He's the president of the United States, which means that if he wants to talk to children, he gets to. That's the way it works. He won the election and therefore, as president, he gets a few perks -- one of them is being able to say, "I want to speak to the youth of America," and not have anyone raise holy hell.

That's really what it's all about, though -- the fact that Barack Obama's political enemies don't actually accept him as president. They consider him an illegitimate -- his presidency some kind of sham, regardless of the overwhelming majority he won back in November of 2008. They've demonized and marginalized him -- called him a foreigner, a socialist, a threat to the American way of life, a cult leader intent on indoctrinating and enslaving our children through sheer force of personality. They bring guns to places he's speaking; they have so little respect for the man or the fact that he won the office he now holds that they intimate that they're willing to cause physical harm to him and his supporters. Seriously, how many times in your life have you heard anyone refer to a sitting president of the United States as a communist and be taken seriously by an entire, supposedly reputable, network news department and its viewers? Even John Kennedy didn't face the broadly validated, well-orchestrated onslaught of accusatory derision Obama's seeing.

I never wanted to play this card, but the longer this outright hostility continues -- the further it's allowed to be amplified -- the more I think that the only word Barack Obama's mainstream attackers are steering clear from at this point is "nigger." They're thinking it -- just not saying it.

But even that isn't their main issue with him.

It all goes back to something I expounded on quite a bit before the election: There are many in this country who don't trust Barack Obama simply because he's different from them. He's intelligent, analytical, articulate, worldly; he isn't a mentally-challenged Barco-lounging lummox who robotically chants bumper-sticker slogans to rally the faithful to his cause while giving everyone else the finger. What's more, he's a guy who -- despite the laughable elitist tag his critics have tried to pin on him -- has fought the odds and busted his ass since the very beginning to make something of himself. He's a black man who became president of the United States. In other words, he's the best person to talk to America's children -- someone they'll believe when he says, "You can become anything you want to in this country."

And it's not that he should be able to do this without having those who refuse to accept him turning it into a topic for debate on cable news. It isn't up for debate at all. The man's president. He gets to do it. Deal with it.

And if you're one of those people threatening to keep his or her kid home from school next Tuesday, ask yourself this: Who's really the one forcing a political agenda on their children?

Oh, and aren't those public schools "socialist" institutions anyway?

Follow Chez Pazienza on Twitter: www.twitter.com/chezpazienza

Comments

[BlackJAC]

We're dealing with people who've only been outside their home county, much less their home state, in order to fight in wars. This means their sole broadening of horizons has been witnessing the basest negativity of humanity under the worst possible conditions. It's the whole you're-onl­y-as-good-­as-your-wo­rst-elemen­t thing all over again.

[doctordoubt]

Before the election I told my wife the country wasn't ready for a black pres. She argued that we were, and that he would really make a difference. I didn't lose hope, but I also didn't stop the way I thought. Today she tends to agree with me that in large, the country isn't ready for a black pres. This post says it like it is, but doesn't go far enough. If, in fact, he can get a reasonable vesion of health care passed, the ire of the GOP will go up exponentially. There are already so many loose cannons out there, I can't imagine what the wing nuts will use next. I can, but it scares me. He is the pres., fact in fact. He won the election, fact is fact. The old guard is so terrified that he is even there, that they will stop at nothing to stop him. This country needs to step back a second, and ask them selves why an entire portion of it can dinigrate the Office of the President the way it has, and still call them selves Americans.

[moutonnoir]

The country is clearly ready for a black president.. We are not ready to confront racist whites.

[booker52]

You are saying just what my husband and I have been saying. Its a shame that those on the right cannot shape policy so they try and shape opinion.

[moutonnoir]

The media makes a mountain out of the molehill that is their hateful rhetoric...

[exmate]

If, indeed, there is something political in what Obama is saying to the kids, why not give the Right equal time ? Let some articulate spokesperson from the Right like Charles Krauthammer or Newt Gingrich give a different point of view. Those on the Left and Right who prefer to have their kids bask in ignorance can then keep their kids home on the day that they think they might "get the wrong message". Hopefully, both sides will agree that hard work and staying in school, are worthy endeavors.

[Nommo]

Krauthammer? Gingrich? Was either elected to the office of the President? Why did you capitalize "right"? You perceive this as some sort of left/right issue?

[exmate]

GW Bush was "elected" President but the GOP is too smart to let that inarticulate dysfunctional misfit go up against Obama. Nor, in my opinion, does it make Bush capable of holding any position of responsibiliy whatever without a team of "advisors" . If not a left/right issue than it is a GOP /Democrat issue. Pick some other GOP elected official if you like.

[michiganms]

I so agree with this article. I thought my frustration level could never get higher than it was through 8 years of W but I was so wrong. From the campaign trail to the election to the birthers, deathers, and now to this ....isn't there ONE Republican that will be honorable during this Presidency and stand up and admit how horrid and immoral the treatment of POTUS is? If anything, listening to the Rethugs for the last year has switched me from an Independent to a Democrat.

[exmate]

There is a bimodal distribution of the GOP population. There are those who know what side their bread is buttered on and those who do not have the foggiest notion of which side their bread is buttered on. The former would be the "haves" who want to "have more". The latter are the rednecks and Bible smackers. They tend to be less educated and tend to be motivated more by arguments that appeal to the emotions. Until recently, being white was an advantage to them. Both groups prefer to have themselves brainwash their children rather than the President . Why not let the Right chose a champion, Newt Gingrich for example, to give their point of view equal time? Let Newt or some other articulate spokesperson give his (her) point of view.

[lwaxanatroi]

This is not a campaign. There is no equal time. There is no equal spokesperson. Obama is THE PRESIDENT. Period.

This has to be stopped. This whole thing has to be stopped. How, I don't know. I only know one thing: on September 12, 2001, I was ready and willing to give my entire loyalty and allegiance to GW Bush, for whom I certainly did not vote, because this is what Americans do in times of crisis. Of course, he proceeded to squander and make mockery of that loyalty by ramming through completely partisan agendas at every opportunity.

Can it be that the right is assuming Obama is doing the same thing? They know Bush would never have spoken to schoolchildren without it being a hugely partisan endeavor, so they believe Obama is only out to plant seeds of Democratic hegemony. The Repubs openly spoke of creating a permanent majority--truly scary in a democracy--and they assume Obama has the same goal for the Democrats.

This is one reason they hate the thought of universal health care: if people like it, they will vote Democratic for years to come. Remember FDR's four terms? They sure do.

[serena1313]

I don't think it will ever cease to amaze me how the right can manufacture a controversy out of thin air; it does not matter that there is no truth, merit or evidence to substantiate whatever they say or how ridiculously outrageous or unrealistic it is, the media reports it as if newsworthy and treats extremism as mainstream. The news is nothing more than a distorted version of the right-wing's imagination.

If I didn't know better I would think that every Town Hall meeting had a slew of detractors -- at least that is the impression I get from the news. Only meetings with shout-fests and angry protesters got news coverage. A rally with 3000 advocates for healthcare reform took place in New Jersey, but nary a word in the local paper. Likewise I suspect the controversy over Obama addressing schoolchildren is a distorted picture as well.

Ratings trump news. Controversy sells. So reporting 'normal' town hall meetings, 3000-strong rallies for healthcare reform and parents who support President Obama talking to their children (over 60% in Missouri & California) are not newsworthy events apparently. And far-right extremists, who should be marginalized, are made to appear mainstream instead.

Creating false impressions, as such, is exacerbating what are already untenable situations and may end-up costing a life. It needs to stop.

[moutonnoir]

It is a huge problem and it is disgusting.. Very clearly 'reality television' style producing has heavily influenced the media. they are obsessed with their own ability to make artificial situations via careful editing.. They are contemptible, and their profession is suffering as a result.

[NetWeasel]

If I recall correctly, George W. Bush spoke to schoolkids the second Tuesday in September after HIS inauguration, and nobody complained about it....

...at least, not before he did...

[THORYOU]

sorry... you have every right to put him down in the USA . comrade

[MeinNH]

Have another beer.

[Non Sibi]

That's is true. You have every right to present yourself to your family and friends as an ignorant bigot.

Please do keep on; stress like that shortens your lifetime.

[doctordoubt]

Right. But along with rights, comes responsibility. H3te the man, if you must, but respect for the office is paramount.

[Anare]

Friday night, hubby and I talking about this, trying to understand the madness. I said the fringe loonies are doing this because Obama is black and they just can't stand that a black man is the president. Hubby said they are doing this because he had a tough childhood, worked his way up through college, Harvard Law, and ultimately the presidency and he has a lovely wife and beautiful smart children and leads an exemplary life, and they can't stand that he is a better man than they are.
Got an email on Friday that my daughter's school will NOT show the president's speech. No explanation given. I called the school and asked them why and asked that they send an email that explains their decision making process. Doubt there will be any response. They sent their email late on Friday afternoon of a holiday weekend. That is when all cowards kick you in the shins and then run away

[Leebot]

Wow, that's really a shame. I'm a grandma now, but if I had kids in a school that pulled that, I'd simply record the speech for later viewing (or watching online) with the kids, discussing the content (and the controversy) at the family dinner table. Sometimes those family dinner conversations can be a forum for much education.

[NetWeasel]

This is the age of YouTube, Twitter & Facebook. Everywhere that school officials do not show the Obama speech, the kids at the school could download it send it to each other, watch it and discuss it.

And they could also discuss why this is forbidden information in their school district.

They could view it as an act of defiance. Defying those who defied the President.

[moutonnoir]

"They could view it as an act of defiance."

This is sure to happen.. Still, I wonder if the kids of the parents in these districts get too far outside of American Idol type programming... They are addicted to ignorance..

[S1m0n]

You know, now that I think of it, the bizarre weakness of the democratic leaders in the house and senate resembles nothing so much as learned helplessness.

[jan4insight]

Stockholm Syndrome.

[moutonnoir]

Fear of their corporate masters pulling funding in the next election cycle...

[ofcoursejesusisblack]

Bravo Chez. You deserve a round of applause and a standing ovation for this post. I couldn't have said it better!

[zanzig]

Agreed, with bells on. The whole situation is disgusting. Looking at your political landscape from Australia over the past 10 or so years, I used to feel irritated at the forelock tugging that went on with your former President, but never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that a situation so entirely opposite to that could happen to President Obama. There is no decency left in your opposition.

[jan4insight]

Co-sign.

[StillIRise]

Today, I started to buy the book, "The End of Conservatism." I changed my mind and decided that I'd just watch it ...

[Non Sibi]

And if we could hurry it along, that would be good. Also, too.

Good one.

[Yermammy]

Too bad it's not written on a Bazooka Joe comic strip. Nice and short.

[globalcitizenlinda]

Americans of good will should talk to their crazy right relatives because the country is once again a laughing stock with this crazy behavior

[HST]

Two things the reichwingnuts will never get:

Obama won, your side lost, therefore he gets to address the kids.

If you don't like it keep your kids home (and even more ignorant).

What Obama is: a DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED PRESIDENT. Deal with it and stop yer' crying.